Once upon a time, deep in the woods, a lovely couple raised a cute family. Mama, Daddy, and their three little children lived a fun and quiet life. The theme of the house was, “Daddy means fun, mommy means business.” This theme carried into bedtime as well. The ornery four year old girl and happy two year old boy would run around the house giggling and laughing with daddy into the deep hours of the night. Daddy’s goal was to play until he wore them out and let them fall asleep fast.
But mama knew better.
She dreamed of a peaceful evening, with children sleeping soundly in their beds, glass of wine in her hand.
So she drew this chart.
Don’t laugh, mama is not and artist. Not even close!
Bedtime Routine – starts at 8 pm
- Ssshhh!! Do the routine quietly! (That means daddy too!)
- Pajamas on
- Teeth brushed
- Go peepee in the potty (and wipe your tushie)
- Read books by the booklight (that looks like a shower, but it is light)
- Stay in your bunkbeds – quietly – until you fall asleep.
The daddy and kids followed the routine exactly. And a magical thing happened! The house was quiet. The mama rejoiced! With the routine chart to follow, there were no arguments or discussions. No getting off track or distracted. And with the pictures the children new exactly what was coming up next.
Mama and Daddy lived happily ever after!
~~~~
Did you like that story? Well it was fun to write but even more fun to live out! Seriously, bedtime was a disaster at my house – a super fun, giggly, disaster. I tried to communicate to somebody how to do bedtime, but Lizzie and David would get distracted and bedtime often became derailed. I sat Lizzie down with me and we drew the chart together. Honestly, she could probably draw it better than I did! But there it is. He holds the chart in his hands as he goes through each step with the kids.
We are currently on Day 3 of usage of the chart. So far, so good! I hope this is the answer we looked for!
I have also heard doing sticker charts works and setting a timer so the timer is telling the kids when to go to bed instead of the parents, eliminating arguments. What have you found helps with bedtime?
I think it’s adorable. Think it will work with kids who are taller than me?
We have no routine, lol but I love this!
I was envisioning you writing this whole thing in the sing-song of Twas the night before christmas!
At the end.. Not even a mouse!
Yay you guys! 🙂